Electrical switch gear



May 3, 1932. F. J. KEELEY 1,856,100

ELECTRICAL SWITCH GEAR Filed Sept. 4, 1950 Patented May 3, 1932 UNITEDSTATES PATIENT QFFEQE FREDERICK JOSEPH KEELEY, OF STREETLY, ENGLAND,ASSIGNOR- TO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLANDELECTRICAL SWITCH GEAR Application filed September 4, 1830, Serial No.479,596, and in Great Britain September 12, 1929.

This invention relates to electric power apparatus of the drop down typeand is particularly useful in connection with switches although it mayfind application in connection with other units of apparatus which arearranged to be withdrawn.

One object of the invention is to facilitate the removal and replacementof a member of apparatus by the provision of an arrangement wherebyaccurate positioning of the member beneath the sockets or equivalentcoupling devices before raising the member into its operative positionis attained quickly and without difliculty.

A further object is to provide apparatus in which the material of whichit is constructed can be economically utilized without unduly stressingany parts of the apparatus.

In general the object of the invention is to provide improved raisingand lowering gear.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention willbe apparent from the following description of a preferred embodimentthereof, reference being made to the accompanying partly diagrammaticdrawing which shows a front elevation of an oil filled metal clad switchunit in its operative position relatively to a set of busbars, togetherwith raising, lowering and supporting gear therefor.

In the drawing the busbar chamber 1 is supported on four uprights 2 acouple of which only are seen in the figure, there being a. further pairof uprights behind those shown. The three phase switch unit comprisesthe usual tank 3 and cover 4, the latter supporting the three insulators5 of the different phases, two only of which are seen in the drawing,the upper parts of which insulators enter the insulating sleeves 6 inorder that the plugs shall respectively engage the sockets severallyconnected to the different busbars. Behind the insulators 5 are threecorresponding insulators also supported by the cover and arranged withplugs for engaging sockets associated with the line side of the switch.

The tank 3 and the switch parts directly associated therewith aresupported from brackets 7 projecting inwardly from the uprights 2 bymembers including short shafts 8 rotatably mounted in thrust bearingsprovided in the brackets 7 and adapted to take the downward pull of theparts supported thereby. On the upper end of each shaft 8 1 is mounted abevel wheel 9 which meshes with another bevel wheel 10. The foremost andhinder bevel wheels 10 at the left hand of the figure are secured to ashaft 12 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings, whilst similarly theforemost and hinder bevel wheels 10 at the right hand of the figure aresecured to a rotatably mounted shaft 11. The shafts 11 and 12 are gearedtogether many suitablemanner, for example, by means of a shaft 13 3rotate ly mounted in bearings 14 and provided at its ends with bevelwheels 15 respectively engaging further bevel wheels severally securedto the far ends of the shafts 11 and 12 the arrangement being such thatrotation of the shafts 11, 12 and 13 results in rota-- tion of the fourshafts 8 in the same sense and at equal rates. Any suitable means, forexample, an electric motor may be provided for turning the shafts, orthe shaft 11 may be extended slightly forward and provided with theprojectin pins 16 for engaging corresponding slots in the head of ahandle 17 (shown in dotted lines) arranged to fit on the end of the saidshaft, the handle then serving to operate the gear.

The tank 3 is formed with sidewardly extending supports 18 having ontheir under surfaces slots 19 into which fit ribs 20 diametricallyarranged on the upper surfaces of internally threaded sleeves 21.Passing through the respective sleeves 21 and through recesses in thesupports 18 are four spindles 22 having similar screw threads whichcooperate with the internal threads of the manner a pair of pins 27. Thepins 26 fit and I A are adapted to rotate within holes formed inopposite limbs 28 of an inverted U-shaped member that embrace the block25. The associated shaft 8 near its lower end is of reduced diameter sothat a head 32 is formed and the limbs 28 are separate from one anotherand engage the shaft 8 above the head 32 at the part of reduced diameterto which they are rigidly clamped by nuts and bolts or the like 29.Similarly the pins 27 fit and are adapted to rotate within holes formedin opposite limbs 34 of a U-shaped memberwhieh also embrace the block25, whilst the associated spindle 22 near its upper end is of reducecdiameter so that a head 33 is formed and the limbs 34 are separate fromone another and engage the spindle 22 below the head 33 at the part ofreduced diameter, to which they are rigidly clamped by nuts and bolts orthe like Since the supports 18 rest directly on top of the sleeves 21the force-on the spindles 22 due to'the weight of the tank 3 and theswitch parts directly associated therewith is simply one oftensi'on,there being no bending moment as in the case of a sleeve or nut with asidewardly extending lug for supporting the moving switch parts.

In operation by rotating the shafts 11 and 12 in the appropriatedirection the sleeves 21 descend on the spindles 22 and the tank 3, thecover! and the switch are lowered. Generally means will be provided asis usual for supporting the cover 4 and the switch after the latter hasbecome isolated by disengagement and separation of the switch plugs fromthe busbar sockets so that further lowering of the tank exposes theswitch contacts. When the tank 3 has been fully lowered a snailadditional rotation of the spindles 22 causes a further lowering of thesleeves 21 whereupon the tank 3 together with the switch itself if thelatter has also been fully lowered may be moved away on its transportcarriage or wheels.

When a tank is moved into place beneath the busbar chamber 1 it isunnecessary to po sition the tank with accuracy since. provided the tankis approximately in position, the spindles 22 may be rotated about theuniversal couplings 24 and the sleeves thereby swung beneath thesupports 18' with the ribs 20 registering with the slots 19. Vhen thenthe spindles 22 are rotated to raise the sleeves 2'1 and the tank 3,,the latter, being suspended on the spindles from the universal joints24, is automatically and correctly centered and continued rotation ofthe spindles causes the tank and switch to rise with the switch plugsimmediately beneath the busba-r sockets until the switch is in itsoperative position. It will be seen that the mechanical power is transmitted along the longitudinal axes of the spindles 22.

If desired means may be provided for prenssaioo venting rotation of thesleeves 21 on the spindles 22 when the ribs 20 are not in engagementwith the slots 19. For example, sidewardly projecting pins may beprovided near the low er ends of the spindles 22, the sleeves 21 attheir lower extremities being formed with corresponding longitudinalslots or grooves that engage with the pins when the ribs 20 commence tomove out of the slots 19.

I claim V 1. Electrical switchgear comprising a supporting frame, awithdrawable switch and tank member, complementary electrical couplingdevices on the supporting frame and said withdrawable member, aplurality of screws for raising and lowering said withdrawa-ble member,said screws being suspended from the supporting frame by universaljoints and separable engaging means between the withdrawable member andsaid screws adapted with the cooperation of said universal joint for theautomatic alignment of said tank and the switch coupling devices duringoperation of the screws in restoring these parts to normal operativeposition.

2*. Electrical switchgear comprising, a supporting frame, a withdrawableswitch and tank member, separable switch coupling devices on thesupporting frame and said with drawable member, a plurality ofsimultaneously rotatable screws for raising and lowering saidwithdrawable member, said screws being suspended from the supportingframe by universal joints, brackets engaging nuts on the screws forsuspending said withdraw- 5C1 able member and engaging elements betweensaid brackets. and nuts adapted in cooperation with said universal ointsfor automatically positioning said withdrawable member for alignment ofsaid tank and switch coupling devices- FREDERICK JOSEPH KEELEY.

